GCSE 2018 no. 6: stress, struggles and success (hopefully) *Title Edited by MNHQ*

My DS school is not offering any study leave. They are expected to finish school on the Friday the 11th May and start exams on Monday 14th. I am considering taking him out of school from 7th-11th so he can prepare for his exams at home and spend his time on his own personal revision. It seems really odd that he doesn't have time to prepare properly away from school. Is anyone else school doing this - would you let them take time off for home revision?

Sounds like the right questions came up - well done to all the dcs!

That's a relief for all concerned. Onwards & upwards!

My DS had History today and usually struggles with it despite doing lots of revision but found the paper ok/ doable so fingers crossed!

Got text saying it went very well! Phew.
Glad everyone seems to be getting positive feedback.

English Lang paper 1 and 2 next week.

Update: apparently it went well!

Not heard anything from DS yet but he'd have had to go straight into lessons. Am encouraged by the reports of it being fairly straightforward/generally good though!

All sounding positive - well done to your DC's. .

Slinky - sorry your not in good health - hope you feel better soon.

Have spoken to DS and he says it was pretty good. The questions were fairly straightforward, particularly one about the peace treaties (his favourite topic).

He's gone home for lunch as he didn't fancy the school lunch.

Hi all - sorry an old lurker but haven't been on mumsnet for the last month as was poorly for some time. DD too had her first exam today - history. Got brief message from her that generally was good but maybe answered one part slightly wrong. No further details than that. She is a worrier and she thinks it went ok so I will take that as good.

The stress of all of these exams is going to kill me I am sure. Am sure it's not a coincidence that I have fallen sick at this time.

Sure I read somewhere above about irrational fears. I too am having them. Study leave after Friday and then exams coming thick and fast from the 14th. Best of luck to all the DCs.

At least they are still using pen & paper. My class today are doing a mock exam on computers where we rely on the technology to automatically submit each answer for marking by whizzing it off into the ether. At least one script will disappear at some stage today. Bring back ink!

mmzz right now the water seems very cold and deep!

It's 11.30 so DS will be putting down his pen (he gets extra time due to his dyslexia). I so hope it's gone well for him, and all the other DC.

One down...

Welcome back snozzle. Ball! It was in the hall/canteen when I was there! Hope she has fun.

We give a lift each morning to another child who is very glass half empty. DD has asked if we can fudge the lift situation for after each exam so she doesn't get interrogated and has to suffer a post mortem. Trying to think of 4 solid weeks of excuses!

It’s what his grandfather says to him at cricket matches as he goes in to bat!

I like the 'Be Mighty' !!

I drove DS to school today - for the first time since Year 7!

I told him to ‘Be Mighty!’

He’s back in lessons this pm, then normal classes tomorrow and Friday. House tug of war at lunchtime.

He’ll be half way through question 2 now. I have everything crossed...

Good luck all - its really starting now, I hope all come home happy and calm tonight.

I think I am nervous for all your DC's today!

Dd said she spent a couple of lessons yesterday doing Tassomai - because they were given the option to revise alone in a couple of the science lessons. It worked well because she had managed to get slightly behind over the weekend because of time spent on French.

It seems to have now got to the point that she would be better at home revising...so just as well they finish on Friday.

Re the early waking, I don't sleep that well at the best of times, so this was enough to set me off. Started thinking about it when I woke up and then couldn't get back to sleep.

DS was really nervous this morning. Couldn't eat his breakfast sausage sandwich (unheard of-he's a human dustbin) so I parcelled it up and sent him off with it. Hopefully he managed to get some of it down before the exam (which has now started-aaaarrrggghhhh)

Hope they all do well. And good luck to the geographers-and the first date!

Sandy another good one! Good luck for geography tomorrow!

Thanks brainmelt.

I told DS1 that I hoped the questions would ever be in his favour. I thought my little Hunger Games quip was quite amusing, he didn't...,

That's a positive message Brainmelt! I must remember that! I'm sure he'll sail through it.
In another parental failure I let DS eat a Wagon Wheel on the way to school. Must remember to buy fruit.
DS says PE and art lessons are now revision sessions, which is another sign that exams are drawing closer.
Someone mentioned grade boundaries but DS's teachers are quite open about the amount of guesswork involved. DS said his teacher put the boundary for a chemistry mock paper at 60/80 for a grade 8 but then said it could well go lower. He got 59 so is hopeful!

"The first of many" were DS' laconic words this morning as he put on his coat. Mine were "May the force be with you" as he walked out the door.

Same to all the historians today! And to Sandy 's geographer tomorrow!

Good luck historians!
Commiserations on the broken sleep.